The Fool Dies Last is the first book in a new light paranormal cozy series by Carol Miller. Released 5th April 2022 by Severn House, it's 224 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

This is an easy and quick read and a solid series starter. The protagonists, sisters who co-own a new-age boutique are 30 somethings, intelligent, quirky, and relatable. They're drawn into trying to solve modern crimes which have links to the long ago past. 

The setting of Asheville, North Carolina, is well written and believable, with the codicil that readers who are intimately familiar with the environs might find discrepancies which aren't obvious to readers from other areas. I liked the shopfront cozy aspect and there's an intriguing paranormal subplot with irascible ghosts in the attic which I hope the author explores more deeply in future volumes.

Much of the characterization, especially secondary characters, is sketched in lightly. My only other quibble with the book is that I found the motive for the murders strained the bounds of credibility. Readers should be prepared to bring a healthy suspension of disbelief. (Then again, there are ghosts in the attic, so there's that). 

Three and a half stars. Eminently readable and enjoyable. The second book in the series was released on 6th Dec. 2022, making this a good candidate for cozy readers for a mini-binge read. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

While this book wasn't for me, I'm sure there are many who will enjoy it. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

There was a lot I liked about this mystery, namely the ghosts, the shop setting and the characters, but some elements of the story just did not work for me at all. A touch too cosy for my liking.

This is the first title in what looks like a great new cozy mystery series -- perfect to recommend to your readers who love cozies and are looking for something new to get started on. The setting is Asheville, North Carolina, which adds lots of appeal. The sleuths are a multi-generational family of mothers and daughters who run a magic store and give psychic readings on the side. I think this is going to be very popular with readers of traditional, small-town, family cozy mysteries. I look forward to recommending it.

This is a terrifically good start to a new series written by Carol Miller. I'm very much hoping it will become a favourite as I loved the characters. It features sisters, Hope and Summer Bailey who run Bailey's Boutique, a mystic shop in Asheville, North Carolina. Other characters are their maternal grandmother, Olivia Bailey, known as Gram; the local doctor, Morris Henshaw and his son; and a local detective, Nate Phillips. The mystery held my attention and kept me guessing. I'm looking forward to the next instalment.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Severn House via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

The Fool Dies Last by Carol Miller is the beginning of The Fortune Telling Mysteries. We meet Hope and Summer Bailey who run a boutique that deals with homeopathic remedies (tinctures), spiritual items (crystals) plus Hope offers palm readings. There is mention that tarot readings were done in the past until a tragedy happened. The Fool Dies Last is a character driven story. The main characters are Hope and Summer with a charming cast of secondary characters that include their grandmother, the local doctor (who is smitten with the grandmother), the doctor’s son, and a local detective. The characters are unique and developed. Unfortunately, the mystery takes a backseat to learning about our characters and their lives. There are two deaths and the potential for more if the killer is not caught. The mystery had some interesting aspects, but it is a cinch to solve. I would have liked the whodunit to be more developed and there to be more of an investigation. The story needed a balance between getting to know the characters and the mystery. The reveal provides the reasoning behind the killer’s actions. There is a hint of paranormal activity in the Bailey home that centers around the attic. They had to bargain with the spirits there in order to get a table and its chairs out of the attic for the shop. I would actually like more paranormal in the book (plus, I want to know what exactly is going on in the attic). There are potential suitors for the sisters. It looks, though, like the road to happily ever after will be bumpy because the men are skeptical about otherworldly matters. The biggest problem I had with The Fool Dies Last is the writing. The author is overly descriptive which bogs down the story. It makes the pacing so slow. We do not need to know every little detail (like what is on a table, what a person is wearing, etc.). I ended up skimming to get through the book. The story could have benefited from humor. The Fool Dies Last is a spirited whodunit with a spiritual shop, a mysterious murder, an atypical tontine, a taxing two-timer, a doubting doctor, a troublesome tarot, and two spirited sisters.

The excellent start for a new cozy series, I'm sure it will become a favorite as I loved the characters and the mystery was solid.
I loved Hope and Summer and the cast of characters: they're fleshed out and relatable. The paranormal side is light and enjoyable.
The solid mystery kept me guessing till the end.
I can't wait to read the next novel.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Someone has left Tarot cards- the fool- on the corpses of victims, bringing sisters Hope and Summer into play as amateur sleuths. They run a small mystic shop, and in Hope's case, read palms in Asheville, North Carolina while their grandmother also pitches in. It's the first in what's meant to be a series so it might seem as though the characters aren't as well rounded as they could be. That said, there's potential here. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

This was an intriguing and entertaining book. Great characters with an interesting premise and a whodunit that kept me guessing.
I hope to read more books featuring these characters.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

Readers who loved "Practical Magic" and "Garden Spells" will love "The Fool Dies Last" too.

Featuring two sisters with a healthy respect for the unseen, set in Asheville, North Carolina, the Fool in the title is the tarot card.

Hope is the sister who gives palm and tarot readings in the boutique their grandmother opened years ago. Summer runs the shop with Hope and sells tinctures to their loyal customers. Their grandmother spends her retirement with her physician boyfriend.

Gran and the doctor are eating spaghetti at the senior center when a friend falls over dead. Was it the tincture Summer sold her? What's that joker tarot card doing there?

Carol Miller tells the tale in a relaxed, cozy style that makes it a perfect summer read.

The first in the author's new Fortune Telling Mystery series is a light cozy that focuses on thirtyish sisters Hope and Summer, who run a mystic-themed shop in Asheville, North Carolina. Hope also reads palms but stopped offering Tarot card readings after a tragic event that is explained later in the novel. Their grandmother lives in a local senior residence with her elderly beau. When women start dying and a Tarot card is found near each body, the sisters fear for their Gram's safety and try to figure out who might be the next victim and why.

I found this a pleasant read and hope there will be more in the series. However, I hope the sisters are are fleshed out more and the supporting characters made more realistic. One of the potential love interests, for example, is portrayed as largely unlikeable, and the murderer's motive and dialogue strain credulity. I liked the paranormal sub-theme and look forward to finding out why the sisters' attic seems to have a violent streak of its own.

My thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for affording me the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

The Fool Dies Last by Carol Miller is a welcome addition to the cozy mystery genre. The protagonists are all involved with tarot reading, palm reading and herbal medicines. This makes for some sparks flying when they have to deal with a skeptic young doctor in the course of solving multiple murders.

This is a strong character driven novel that is the first in a proposed new series featuring two sisters, Hope and Summer, and a supporting cast of family and friends. Hope and Summer have a boutique that sells in natural remedies and healing. In addition Hope provides palm readings and, in the past, Tarot Card readings. Several references to a tragedy which occured the past February are mentioned as explaining why Hope no longer does Tarot readings. Toward the end of the novel there are some indications she may begin them again, which would add another dimension to the series.

The book offers some delightful characters starting with the sisters and a few secondary characters including their grandmother, the local doctor, his son, and a police detective. Their development is well thought out and engaging, providing an interesting opportunity to get to know them. The murder of two people and the concern there may be other murders being planned are definitely secondary to the development of characters and their relationships with each other.

These characters are entertaining to read about, and the reader may definitely find they want to learn more about them and follow their lives in future novels. There is also a strong thread of paranormal activity in the book, centered primarily on the attic of the brownstone where the sisters live. They frequently refer to the attic, why they prefer not to go up there, movement
inside it, and some results that have been less than pleasant. At one point Hope must spend some time in the attic which yield unexpected results.

There are two secondary characters who are shaping up to be love interests for the two sisters, and they are definitely skeptical about anything otherworldly. This setup for conflict is not pursued within this novel, leaving the possibility of future conflict as the series grows. The attraction between the two couples is mentioned early on, with little build-up to its creation. It will be interesting to see if additional foundation for these relationships is developed in future novels in the series.

I enjoyed reading about the characters in the novel and the mystery seemed intriguing, which led to a light read that was satisfying after having been immersed in a few more demanding stories. The plot was somewhat shallow, and might leave the reader wishing for more details regarding how individuals fit together and giving additional buildup to some occurrences in the book. The ending was completely as expected, with the perpetrator being somewhat obvious for a good deal of the book.

Because the characters are fun and the book is enjoyable in the character development of the story, it might make an excellent beach or airplane read where the reader can easily pick it up and put it down as circumstances require. Because the characters are so entertaining and it would be interesting to see how they continue to develop their relationships, I would consider reading the next book in the series. It would be my hope that a mystery might be more clearly developed, complete with a chance to see some of the investigation into solving it. I look forward to seeing what adventures are in store for sisters Summer and Hope.

The Fortune Telling Mysteries #1

The first in a new series! Hope and Summer Bailey are sisters who run Bailey’s Boutique, a shop in Asheville that sells crystals and tinctures as well as doing palm readings and the Tarot. Hope hasn’t done a Tarot reading in a long time. And she doesn’t want to discuss it.

As she is doing a palm reading for a regular customer, an irate man bursts through the door carrying a vial and accusing them of poisoning his patient with one of Summer’s tinctures. While he says he is a doctor, they have no idea who he is since their grandmother is dating the town doctor.

Things go from bad to worse when a woman dies in what looks like an allergic reaction. They also find a tarot card on her body. The Fool. And when another of her Grandmother’s friends dies in a similar way, also with a Fool card they realize it isn’t just a coincidence.

Then they find out their Gram is part of a tontine and things really heat up. To find a killer they need Hope to engage the tarot again. Can she do it?

There were some really good characters in this new series. Summer and her husband had their own thing going on as did a few of the other characters. Plenty of people to suspect!

NetGalley/April 5th, 2022 by Severn House Publishers

Occasionally, a book comes along that I enjoy, but it’s hard to put my finger on the reason I enjoyed it. Carol Miller’s first Fortune Telling Mystery, The Fool Dies Last, has a few elements that would normally bother me. Maybe, it’s her writing, but for some reason the characters, the humor, and the touches of paranormal and romance just worked. The book was just fun.

Hope Bailey and her sister Summer Bailey Fletcher are the current owners of Bailey’s Boutique, established by their grandmother, Olivia. The mystic shop in Asheville, North Carolina sells crystals, candles, herbs, and Hope reads palms. She is an expert at reading the Tarot cards, but she gave that up in February. But, it’s Summer’s tincture, lemon balm, that brings Dr. Dylan Henshaw storming into the shop. He accuses the sisters of trying to kill one of his patients, but before they can get into a fight, Hope receives a call from their grandmother. Olivia is at the community center for bingo and dinner, and she’s asking for help.

Dylan is called to the center because his father is Dr. Morris Henshaw. He’s seeing Olivia, and he was on the scene when Roberta King collapsed and died. Why did Olivia call Hope? The victim has a Tarot call, the Fool, in her purse when she died. Olivia and Morris can provide all kinds of information about the victim and other people at the center. Hope is the only one who can tell Detective Nate Phillips about Tarot. Dylan, a man of science, thinks Tarot and all of the mystic items from the boutique are ridiculous. However, when another woman from Olivia’s circle of friends dies at the local spa, with another Fool card on her, everyone begins to wonder what the connection is.

As I said, I like the characters. Hope is a generous person who loves her sister and grandmother, and worries about them. Gram is seventy-four, but she’s not treated as an over-the-hill senior. She’s dating Morris, spends nights at his house. Even though she and several friends hide information from the police, Olivia is sharp. Then, there’s the secret of the attic in the brownstone where Hope lives. It’s an interesting paranormal element that leaves room for development in future books. And, there’s enough hints of future romance to entice the reader while not overwhelming the mystery.

I’ve never read one of Carol Miller’s mysteries, but I’ll be waiting for the next in the Fortune Telling Mystery series. It’s hard to go wrong with an interesting cast of characters, a twist in the mystery, a little humor, with a touch of paranormal and romance. Carol Miller brought all those elements together with skill.

The Fool Dies Last, an interesting mystery by Carol Miller, is a well-written tale that takes a while to get going. In fact, it wasn't until chapter 4 that much except excessive description took place at all. I found it overly descriptive and ended up just skimming sections of the book to get to the plot.
I was also disappointed that, while the description on Amazon says this is a hilarious book, I found few instances of humour at all.
Once the story found its legs, however, it was interesting. I just wasn't intrigued enough to look forward to the next book.
I received an early ARC of #TheFoolDiesLast from #NetGalley.

The Bailey sisters - Hope and Summer - own a small mystic shop that sells crystals, herbs, candles and other potions. When a doctor accuses them of trying to poison one of his patients, the sisters are stunned and know they are blameless, but when two other older women die and each has a tarot card near their bodies, the police want a closer look at the Bailey sisters. It's up to Hope to interpret what the cards mean and who would want to poison two of her grandmother's friends. When their grandmother casually mentions a tontine, the plot thickens. An engaging new series.

I enjoyed The Fool Dies Last very much. Hope Bailey is the main character of this story. The supporting characters add to the story. She and her sister, Summer Bailey Fletcher own Bailey's Boutjique-Mystic Shop. They sell crystals, candles, and the like in a brownstone owned by their grandmother, Olivia Bailey in Ashville, North Carolina. Hope lives upstairs in the brownstone with her grandmother. The brownstone has an attic that has ghosts that guard the attic. While doing a reading of one of her clients, Rosemary Potter a man comes storming into her store asking them which one of them tried to kill Betsy Hughes. He accused them of giving an old lady potions and salves instead of seeing a doctor. He stated that he was her doctor. While there, Hope gets a call from her grandmother telling her to come to the community center. There has been an accident. When arriving at the center Hope finds an ambulance and police there. She finds her grandmother and her boyfriend, Morris Henshaw. Detective Nate Phillips is very interested in what she has to say about Tarot cards. She also finds out that the man who came into her shop is Morris's son Doctor Dylan Henshaw. The body of Roberta King is dead. The doctor determines that it was an allergy that killed her. They also found the fool tarot card in her purse. Megan specializes in this card. The next day Hope goes to the Amethyst Hotel to read the hands of 3 clients. While there her friend, Megan Steele who works at the hotel tells her that a woman named Mystjique Monique is registered at the hotel and the second person with her is Summer's husband Gary. They go to the spa to confront him which they do. While there another woman Marilyn Smoltz dies at the hotel spa the same way that Roberta.did. She too has the Fool Tarot card in her robe. This is where the story takes off and the reader is taken on a journey of finding out who and why these women are killed. Hope finds out that 25 years ago her grandmother and 5 other women signed a tontine about who would die last. The last person gets all the money they put into the tontine. The two women who have died are one of the six.. The reader is taken on another adventure finding out who is killing them off. The story comes to an exciting ending.

I will be interested in reading the next of this series to find out what new adventure Hope and her family go on.

Thank you NegGalley and Severn House for this ARC.

Sisters Hope and Summer are the proprietors of Bailey’s Boutique, a small shop that sells mystical items and palm readings. When people begin dying under mysterious circumstances and a particular tarot card keeps being found at the scene, it becomes obvious that some murderous shenanigans are underfoot. Can Hope’s knowledge of tarot reading help uncover the killer before they strike again?

I was interested in reading this cozy mystery because of the unusual setting - I hadn’t come across one before that featured mysticism and tarot reading. While I found the plot intriguing, some of the characters really fell flat for me. Hope is a likable enough protagonist, but her I found her sister oddly abrasive, and the love interest doctor was a jerk. Many of their social interactions were off-putting and just plain strange.

They would barge into places they’ve never been and be extremely rude to people they’ve never met. After they found the second dead body, instead of being shocked, confused, sad, scared, etc. they proceeded to stand there and chit chat while the love interest asked rude and invasive questions. Would you ask someone you just met if their grandmother was actually their “real” grandma because they don’t look like their ages add up? If you were a shop owner would you rush over to an unknown patron and rant and rave over how you think your candles smell like poo? I know some people can be blunt, but they were tactless to a really juvenile degree, and they were supposed to be thirty-something adults. Throughout this novel I kept thinking that people just don’t behave like these characters were, and it really took me out of the story.

This was a quick, easy, cute and enjoyable read that incorporated mystery, love and magical realism. It was quite an unbelieveable read but that didnt bother me in the slightest I was there for the long haul and I found it freally enjoyable. Definitely worth picking up